Sunday, May 17, 2009

Mark Twain at Oxford

Twain received an honorary doctorate in letters from Oxford University in 1907. He was in worthy company. Honorary degrees were also awarded to composer Camille Saint-Saens, sculptor Auguste Rodin, writer Rudyard Kipling, and General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army.

In Latin, by University chancellor Lord Curzon, our Mark Twain was addressed thus:

"Most amiable and charming and playful sir, you shake the sides of the world with your merriment!"